The plan seemed solid: Drop off our older son at Ohio State’s move-in day, then stop for dinner in downtown Cleveland on our way back up Interstate 71 from Columbus. The younger son’s first day of middle school was the following day, so it would be a fun little dinner out before summer break wrapped up.
Things, however, did not quite go as planned.
The move-in took longer than expected. A severe thunderstorm significantly slowed traffic about a half-hour into our return trip, and then an accident in a construction zone slowed it to a near-halt a little later.
After all the delays — and not wanting to deal with Guardians traffic on top of it — our weary travel party decided to divert our dinner plans from the Wild Eagle Saloon downtown to the Wild Eagle Steak and Saloon in Broadview Heights.
Both locations, as well as a third in Streetsboro, are operated by Cleveland-based Geis Hospitality Group, which launched the downtown Wild Eagle in 2016. We learned that the subsequent Broadview Heights and Streetsboro venues are dubbed “Steak and Saloon” rather than simply “Saloon” because there’s a little more to the food menus.
Located on East Royalton Road at Interstate 77, the Broadview Heights location also has more space than its predecessor. It’s a 17,000-square-foot building with soaring ceilings, a large bar in the center of the space and arcade-type games that give it a “come and hang out” vibe. It leans into industrial chic, décor-wise, and I thought it was a little dimly lit for a place with a kids’ menu and things to do for the whole family.
One thing exclusively for grownups is the Inebriation Station, a self-service beer wall with about 30 options on tap. Guests load funds onto a beer card, then grab a glass and help themselves. As loudly as something called Inebriation Station was calling out to us after the day we had, we still had at least another hour’s ride home, so we skipped that adventure.
There’s also a fairly extensive whiskey list, as well as some craft cocktails and a few wines.
Food-wise, the focus is contemporary takes on bar-food staples with a Western theme. But you can also get a $50 porterhouse dinner or healthier salad options.
We started with Pepperoni Flatbread ($13) from the appetizer menu because that’s something the 11-year-old will always eat. We also had to order the soft pretzel appetizer, Big A$$ Pretzel ($15), because if you’re dining with an 11-year-old boy and the menu reads that, there’s no way you can’t.
The flatbread was more style than substance, looking good on the cutting board it was served upon but coming across as a little bland. There was some char on the edges of the crust, but overall the crust was neither crispy nor particularly soft. One edge of one of the sandwich-sized pepperoni slices also had a bit of char, but I would have preferred the whole dish had stayed in the oven just a bit longer. Our server did say that the kitchen dropped a flatbread attempt on the floor, so perhaps our replacement was a bit rushed.
The pretzel app, large enough to mostly live up to its name, was more enjoyable. It was piping hot, salty enough without being overpowering, and the house-made beer cheese sauce it was served with was surprisingly good.
The Big A$$ Pretzel appetizer at the Wild Eagle Steak and Saloon in Broadview Heights is what the colorful name implies. (Mark Koestner — For The News-Herald)
The Wild Tendies ($17) fell into a similar category for me: a surprisingly good iteration of something that’s on menus everywhere. The dish consisted of five decent-sized chicken tenders that came across as hand-breaded and were well-seasoned, with just a hint of chili or red pepper to make them interesting. We got them with a bourbon barbecue sauce that provided a complementary blend of sweetness and tanginess.
This plate of Wild Tendies at the Wild Eagle Steak and Saloon in Broadview Heights has plenty of potato power in chips and fries. (Mark Koestner — For The News-Herald)
The tenders come with two sides, and my son chose kettle chips AND fries, so there was a lot of fried food on the plate. The kettle chips were above-average, and I preferred them to the fries, which is not typical for me.
I went a bit healthier with a grilled chicken Smokin Bowl ($16) from the Greens and Grains section of the menu. The bowl consists of cilantro-lime rice, with black bean and corn salsa and your choice of chicken, pulled pork, Cajun shrimp ($1 more) or salmon ($3 more) and a choice of sriracha aioli, barbecue sauce or teriyaki.
This version of the Smokin Bowl at the Wild Eagle Steak and Saloon in Broadview Heights featured grilled chicken and a memorable sriracha aioli. (Mark Koestner — For The News-Herald)
I went with the sriracha aioli, and it was outstanding. I was concerned at first glance that there was too much sauce, but for a dish with juicy chicken and a salsa — a lot of wet ingredients — it was not soggy. And the sauce made every last bite delicious. Bowls are kind of a trend now, and this one stood out for me.
My wife’s Coop Classic sandwich ($15) was good but not great. It was grilled chicken breast topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and garlic aioli and served on a brioche bun. The chicken was cooked nicely and was juicy, and the bun was good, but I liked the sriracha aioli much better than the garlic.
We were welcomed warmly and seated right away, which isn’t all that surprising given the hour and day of the week. I was a bit disappointed that, despite the huge space, we were put in a booth practically on top of a large group of 10 or so adults, including some seniors, at two nearby tables put together.
That, plus the fact that only two of the three menus we were handed were current — one was an old version that snuck into the rotation, apparently — and the dropped flatbread admission made it feel as though the staff was having a slightly off night.
This Pepperoni Flatbread from a recent visit to the Wild Eagle Steak and Saloon in Broadview Heights may have been rushed. (Mark Koestner — For The News-Herald)
That didn’t keep us from enjoying our meal, and some of what we had was truly delicious. I can imagine that during a big game or with live entertainment on a weekend, Wild Eagle is a fun, lively place. I don’t know if I’d drive all the way from home just to visit, but as an on-the-way-home stop along a twists-and-turns journey, it was a welcome diversion.
Reviews are based on one anonymous visit to a restaurant.
Wild Eagle Steak & Saloon
5001 East Royalton Road
Broadview Heights
440-736-7707
wildeagle.com
Location: On the north side of East Royalton Road (Route 82), just west of I-77
Type of restaurant: Bar and grill.
Hours: 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday.
Liquor and wine: Full bar.
Facilities for the handicapped: Yes.
Credit cards: All major.
Cuisine: Contemporary bar/comfort food; steaks.
Vegetarian: A couple of options.
Special diets: Ask about dietary restrictions.
Kid-friendliness: Kids’ menu; family-friendly.
Outdoor dining: Yes.
Dress code: Casual.
Reservations: Accepted.
Wi-Fi: Yes.
Online ordering: Yes.
Delivery: Yes.
Prices: Moderate — appetizers, sandwiches and salads mostly in the $13 to $17 range; entrees, including steaks, $20 to $50.
Value: Good.
Ratings (of five):
Food: 3.5.
Atmosphere: 3.
Service: 3.
Dining and Cooking